As summer ends and fall and winter approach, it’s time to prepare your home for the cold ahead. Below, we’ll give you a checklist of the different tasks you need to complete to wrap up your AC unit and get your heater prepped for its long winter run.
Cover Your Condenser Unit
As the days start to get colder and shorter, you won’t need to rely on your home air conditioning system to stay comfortable. Fall is the ideal time to clean up around your condenser unit and put a cover on it. If you don’t have a special AC unit cover, be sure you don’t completely enclose your unit. The sides must have air holes. This lets moisture escape from the condenser unit during winter. It helps prevent internal corrosion.
Program Your Thermostat
Setting your thermostat as fall starts helps save energy all winter. Switch your thermostat from cooling to heating. Make sure that your fan is set to auto and not on.
It’s best to use a programmable or smart thermostat. You can set your preferred temperature based on the day and time. If you have had your smart thermostat for a while, it likely has retained your winter settings from previous years. This can allow you to cash in on a lot of energy savings throughout the winter months.
Schedule Heater Maintenance
One thing you never want to forget to do is schedule heater maintenance with one of our HVAC technicians. Our professional maintenance covers many tasks. We calibrate your thermostat, lubricate moving parts, and test electrical connections. We also check for toxic emissions and more.
You need this maintenance service to keep your heating system’s warranty. It will also help it last longer. It’s great for spotting problems before they worsen. This helps us fix them and lowers your risk of winter breakdowns.
Test Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
If you have a heating system that burns oil or gas, you must have carbon monoxide detectors in your home. You should have smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher present as well. Now is a great time to test all your detectors. Make sure they work well. Also, replace old batteries so they won’t die during winter. Additionally, ensure your fire extinguisher is not expired.
Examine Air Vents
As we transition into the fall, it’s helpful to walk around to all the air vents in the rooms throughout your home to check their status. Ensure they are completely open. You should never close air vents, as it can affect the pressure inside your ductwork and decrease the efficiency of your HVAC system. When you’re checking each vent, make sure you look in front of it for any potential obstructions, like furniture or even plants.
Get Chimney Cleaning Service
Furnaces that burn fuel to create heat produce toxic fumes as a byproduct of the combustion process. This is safe when a chimney or vent pipe directs all those exhaust fumes outside.
Before using your heater, have a chimney cleaner clean your chimney. This helps reduce the risk of fire or blockage. They will alert you to any defects in your chimney that could allow toxic fumes to back up inside your home.
Order Fuel
When temperatures drop, you need to have adequate fuel for your heating system on hand. We recommend setting up an automatic fuel delivery service to guarantee a constant supply of fuel for your heater. This is necessary if you use propane or heating oil that requires you to store fuel on-site for your heating system.
Set Ceiling Fans
If you use ceiling fans all year to stay comfortable and save on energy bills, remember to reset them for winter. During the colder months, make sure your fans spin clockwise to keep warm air pushed downward.
Set your ceiling fans to spin clockwise. This helps recirculate the hot air trapped at the ceiling. It pushes the warm air down along your walls and back to the floor. Running ceiling fans in your home can boost comfort and lower energy bills.
Seal up Air Leaks
One of the absolute worst things for your heating system is having air leaks in the exterior walls of your home. Leaks can let cold air in. This makes your heating system work harder to keep your home warm. It’s best to locate any new air leaks that have opened up and seal them so that you don’t have to worry about overpaying for your winter heating bills.
The best places to check for new air leaks include your door frames, window frames, outlets, and light switches on your exterior walls. You’ll feel a noticeable temperature difference when you run your hand across an air leak. You can use different products to seal up the leak, including foam insert pads, spray foam, weather stripping, and even caulking.
Change Air Filter
The air filter in your HVAC system keeps debris out of your heater. It also helps improve indoor air quality. As we transition from the warm summer to the cold winter, you should put in a new air filter.
Make sure that you have an extra air filter on hand so you can do replacements throughout the winter season as necessary. We recommend checking your filter at least once a month. You may even want to consider a filter with a MERV rating between 10 and 13 to reduce wintertime allergens.
Upgrade Your Outdated Unit
The late summer through the early fall is an off-peak time for many HVAC companies. Look for discounts on last summer’s air conditioning systems. This is a great time to upgrade if you have an old system. Choosing this time of year for upgrades allows us to complete our tasks with greater efficiency. There is little demand for air conditioning units right now. Our technicians have free time between the cooling and heating seasons.
You can enjoy financing on approved credit and online discounts on this year’s new heating systems. Replace during off-peak times. This way, you avoid extreme temperatures that can make your home uncomfortable or unsafe.
Planned Service Agreement
With an HVAC maintenance plan, you get more than regular maintenance. You’ll enjoy priority service, which means you’ll always be at the front of the line when issues arise. A maintenance plan can also extend your labor warranty, giving you added peace of mind. Additionally, you may receive discounts on repairs or new installations.
Some HVAC companies handle your scheduling. They call to remind you about maintenance appointments. Having a plan means you get regular tune-ups. This leads to better performance, more efficiency, and a longer system life. Plus, you’ll get extra savings, convenience, and excellent service all year round.
Expert Heating Maintenance Service
Blue Best Plumbing, Heating, Air, & Generators offers expert heating maintenance services for the Bountiful, UT area. We can help with your heating and cooling needs. This includes installation, replacement, repairs, and maintenance plans. Call us today to book your next service appointment with one of our helpful technicians. Be sure to ask us about our HVAC maintenance plan!
